Furring strips and channels and connecting structure



Aug-.31, 1 948: f 'lcHAEL '0 i I I AND CHANNELS AND CONNEC J. FURRING G STRUCTURE 7 Filed Jan. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Fig.6 Fig.9 INV TOR.

- ATTokugr.

J. MICHAEL FURRING STRIPS AND CHANNELS Aug. 31, 1948.

AND CONNECTING 'STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1946 Patented Aug. 31, 1948 USN-TILT STATES FURR'ING STRIPS AND'GHANNELS AAND GONNEGTl-NG ST-RUG'BUREI I Jack Michael, Cleveland, Ohio I Application January 18, 1946;, SerialNoi 641,898

3.?Glaims.

Thisinvention, as indicated, rel'atestoa-furring strip orf urring channel constructionwith associated means for supporting the same; suchfiurring-stripsproviding a base to which lath or-any selected finishing elements-such asrtile, walliboard onthelike may be attached. More particularly, it'- comnrises f urring channels formed of elongated meta];- members incorporating means permitti'ng the overlayin and securing of finishing surfaces 'or structural: elements: thereto such as lath, sheet material" of various types: or any selected' wall;- or ceiling-1 finishing or structural units found suitable The elongated furring channels preferably are hollowsubstantially rectangular units: having a per-forable area to=provide a point of support for nails; screws or other fastening elements: holding the wall or ceiling material" thereto. The inventionpermit's of greater speed in finishing: an interior wall on ceiling structure and" at the same time an improved appearance is. brought about and greater security and permanence ofthe'fastenings isprovidedior. In many instances, build ing regulations require that theentire structure fully comply therewith. The: furring channels are formed of somewhat rectangular hollow-mam. bers of? thin. sheet metal, providing: a surface adapted to be engaged by nails, wide-threaded screws; toggle bolts; or any othersuitable means for attaching structuralunits. The channelifurringstrips may-'be attached to either wall or ceiling structures; and the ceilings: may be either furred' suspended ceilings;

The principaltobject of the present inventionis toiprovider a. fur-ringstrip construction adaptedto be attached: to wall?or-ceilingastructures andserve a the immediate supports to which lath, compo,- sition boards, on any." structural. finishing units man-be secured;

Anothep object: ofthe invention, is: to pro-videa furring strip ofilightsheet metal adaptedifor use in:- conventional! manner; suchchannel providing apredetemninedfarearadaptedtoreceivingfasteningelementslfor structural unit's toz be retained in:permanentsengagementtherewith..

AnOhhBn-ObjEGhofsiihQ invention isrtotprovide an el'ongatedi furringzstriptadaptedi to bezfilledi with nerfora'blegcomposite; material whereby nails,

- screw-fastenings; and: thelilse may," be readilzwenrgagedrtherewitha: to hold .units; firmly thereto:-

Another obiectmf 1 the; inventiom is; tornmv d'e. a

"ccmnosite:substantiallyarectangtflarelcngatedme tallic furring member formed of intenenga-ged chsnnclsstrirswithon withcutl'softfill nssmateclosed rectangular furring strip formedof nested channel members engaged overa; Wood? nailing strip andprotectihgthe same against destruction byfire or-frorn attack by 'insects.

Other andfurther objects of the invention will 0 appear in the following-descriptions:

To the accomplishment of' the foregoingand related'ends, said invention, then; consists ofthe means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed'out in the-claims;

The annexed drawing and the following description setv forth, in detailcertain structure em; bodying the invention, such disclosed means constitlltin however, but several of various structural forms in whi h the. principle, of the inv ntion maybeused;

In said anne d awing Eig-ure: 1' is a, perspective view Showing @5118,- pended ceiling. structure with, carrying. bars and be fireproof and -theinvention supplies.;means;to 2 at genes of fuming Strips on channels supppmed here n insp cecl parallel relation Eigwe .2, is a. fragmentary perspective view showing. a furring channel secured. to. a bar, joist; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective, view 30 showinga. turning channel secured to a Wood joist}:

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a turning channel secured to the.- webs on the under side of a concrete floor;

i -l n 5- is: a; fra m a y p rspec ive vi showing a tunin channelr securedto the under sideofime alliclumberelements;

Eigure 6; is apfra m ntaryperspective". view showin oneftsgpeiot f-urring channela emb dyin 0' the principles: of the invention with a plaster bear (1, unit; inrsupported; relation thereunder Figures? is a view similar to- Figure 6*shewing the;v marine channel pr vided w th: a fillingi 0 Noam-to; assist in providing a nailing base;

' L, F,=igll ie &zis a frag menta-ryperspective view i1;-

' athed; to. an eutsi e and, an: insidewallrL s rf-ace respectively, and also attached directly to the under side of the joists of the floor above;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a furring channel of inverted, flattened V-type with a bottom strip of thin gage metal having preformed perforations;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 with the bottom strip formed of an expanded metal strip suitably secured to the flanges of the flattened V-shaped channel member;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary perspective view as seen from below of a flattened V-shaped channel member provided with a bottom strip of expanded metal covered with a coating of adhesive paper and with a block of tiling secured thereto by means of a toggle bolt;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figures 10 and 11 with a bottom strip formed of mesh or screening and suitably secured by means of staples;

Figure 15 illustrates a furring channel of flattened inverted V-shape having a wood or composition filler and a thin bottom strip having preformed perforations; and

Figure 16 is a furring channel of flattened inverted V-shaped cross-section having a mesh or screening secured thereto, such mesh being overlaid with a layer of paper glued thereto The various forms of furring strips are utilized in structures with the suspended type of ceiling such as is shown in Figure 1 or in the furred ceilings shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

As is clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, when a suspended ceiling is to be installed the furring channels I are attached by means of wires 2 to carrier bars 3 which are suspended at the ends of wires 4, the free ends of which are embedded in the ceiling in the course of construction. The furring channels may be variously formed, as is shown in Figures 6-16 inclusive. The form shown in Figure 6 comprises achannel of inverted V-shape, the V being flattened, and in cross-section in the form of a truncated cone having a flat web portion and inclined side portions 6. It also has short horizontal flanges 1 along each marginal free edge. In order to provide a means for receiving the fastening elements to hold the structural elements of the ceiling, an elongated sheet of thin gage metal 8 to provide a bottom wall is secured to the channel by bending the marginal portions 9 of the thin metal strip to engage over the marginal flanges of the channel member which, as shown in Figure 11, may be provided with preformed perforatiOns IE1.

As is clearly shown in Figure 2, the furring strip or channel I' is connected to a, bar joist 3| by means of Wire loops 32. Where the furring channel is to be attached to a wooden joist as shown in Figure 3, loops 33 are engaged about the furring channel and the loops are secured by means of staples 34 to the adjacent portion of the joist. When the furring channel 1 is to be secured to a concrete structure 35 with webs 36 formed by inverted U -shaped pans, wires 31 are embedded in the concrete before it sets and wire loops 38 are then engaged around the furring channel to hold the same firmly in engagement with the under side of said webs, as shown in Figure 4. Where the construction utilizes what is known as metal lumber 4!, usually formed of I beams of extremely thin-walled metal with marginal flanges 42, the furring channel I is held to the under side of said channel by means of wire loops 43 as shown in Figure 5. Although the preferred form of furring channel is that illustrated in Figure 6 wherein the channel 5 is of heavy gage and the bottom plate is of thin gage metal, for many purposes it is also desirable to have a wood filler 44 within the channel just referred to, as shown in Figure 7. While the form of construction illustrated in Figures 6-7, and 10-15 for the individual channels is preferred, it is to be understood that as shown in Figure 8 the channels may also be made of an inverted'U-shap'ed member 5! of substantially square cross-sections about which a thin metal web 52 is engaged, such Web forming the thin bottom plate 53 of the channel through which screw-threaded members 54 may be engaged holding to the under face of the channel suitable ceiling base material such as the plaster board 55. For certain constructions, a

filling 56 of wood or plastic composition may be utilized in order to provide better nailing foundation against which to secure the tile, plaster board or other base material .used for the ceiling, as shown in Figure 9. It should be noted, however, that Figure 11 shows the thin metal section as engaged about the marginal flanges 1 of the channel member and also held by means of marginal staples l I to such flanges.

Figure 6 shows a base member for the ceiling l2 secured by means of a heavily threaded screw l3 through a perforation formed in the thin metal member. As has been indicated, in place of forming the perforationsat selected points on a plain unperforated bottom member, it is preferable to supply a full series of perforations similar to perforations shown in Figure 11 of the drawing. The channel member, in some instances, will not only have the preformed perforations HI but as shown in Figure 15 will have a filling M of wood or composition of a degree of softness permitting the securing of nails, screws or the like through the perforated member and into the filling. In place of using a perforated bottom member in many instances it is desirable to use an expanded metal strip [5 such as is shown in Figure 12 of the drawing, the margins of said strip l6 being folded around the channel member and being held thereto by staples l1.

While staples have been referred to as holding the bottom member to the channel member, it is to be understood that in most instances any preferred form ofsecuring the bottom member to the channel member may be used, such as spot welding, riveting or slip-over channels.

In many instances, it is desirable to fasten the base elements of the ceiling to the bottom strip of the channel member by means of adhesive, and in some instances the bottom piece of the channel member is coated with a layer of paper l8 which then serves as a base for securing board or tile I9 thereto by bonding means together with toggles 21!, as illustrated in Figure 13, the bifurcated toggle member 2! spreading and bearing against the expanded metal member when drawn downwardly by means of the screw 22.

It has been found very satisfactory to use mesh or screening 23 as the perforable bottom member of the furring channel such as is shown in Figure 14. This strip of screening also may be fastened to the channel strip by means of' staples or by other means such as riveting, spot welding or the like. The mesh type of structure may be provided with a wood or composition filler 25 suchas is shown in Figure 16 and it also may be provided with a paper base 26 secured directly to mesh 23' by means of glue together with staples if desired.

As has been stated the furring strips or channels may be used not only in furred or suspended ceilings but also on the inner surfaces of outside walls, or on inner walls, in vertical or horizontal position as required. Thus in Figure the vertical furring strip SE of the preferred construction shown in Figure 6 is secured to an outside wall 62 by means of expanding bolts 63. Expanding bolts may also be used to attach furring strips 64 to the inner wall 65 and the ceiling furring strips 66 to the under side of the joists 51. The finishing units of lath of all types, tile, plaster board or other composition board, plywood or any other selected material may then be attached to the furring strips as above described.

The use of metal furring strips against an outside wall provides an air space which avoids dampness in many localities. The invention thus is of broad utility and of long service life, as well as easy to install and suitable for full fireproof constructions.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the ones explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equiv,- alent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A furring strip adapted to support a ceiling and comprising an elongated structural channel shape secured in position with the web of said channel shape upward and with the sides of said channel shape extending downwardly, strengthening flanges along the bottom edges of said sides, and sheet material readily penetrable by a fastening screw secured to said flanges and spanning the open bottom of said channel shape and 6 adapted to receive securing members for holding said ceiling.

2. A furring strip adapted to support a ceiling and comprising an elongated structural channel shape of inverted truncated V section secured in position with the web of said channel shape upward and with the sides of said channel shape extending downwardly, strengthening flanges along the bottom edges of said sides and extending outwardly therefrom and sheet material readily penetrable by a fastening screw secured to said flanges and spanning the open bottom of said channel shape and adapted to receive securing members for holding said ceiling.

3. A furring strip adapted to support a ceiling and comprising an elongated structural channel shape of inverted truncated V section secured in position with the web of said channel shape upward and with the sides of said channel shape extending downwardly, strengthening flanges along the bottom edges of said sides and extending outwardly therefrom and a sheet of imperiorate sheet metal secured to said flanges and closing the open bottom of said channel shape, said sheet metal adapted to be perforated by a, metal screw for attaching ceiling material thereto.

JACK MICHAEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

